The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-10-05
WISCONSIN LETTER.

ED. REPUBLICAN -
For some time your valued journal has
been putting in quite a regular appearance
on Saturday evening, but the last number
must have fingered on the road for 1 did
not get it until Monday evening. I have
read every line of your local news with
great interest, and often with some sur
prise, particularly the latter when read
of marriages, births and also deaths nat
urally occurring among our old friends,
patrons and neighbors. 1 have been ca
gerly watching for some glowing accounts
of squirrel hunts that are always a great
feature among the boys there, but so far
have discovered nothing to indicate that
you have had, or mean to have one of our
old fashioned match hunts. We do not
have any black or grey squirrels here, at
least have seen none and heard of none
being seen near here, but red or pine
squirrels are very plenty and there are
many pheasants or ruffied grouse. There
is also plenty of larger game such as deer,
bears and an occasional moose. One man
watching lumber camp claims to have
seen IL deer in one drove, last week. A
small boy went tside of the camp to a
spring for pail Of water and he almost
ran against large bear. The boy was so
frightened he yelled and ran to camp, the
sudden fright also scared the bear and he
climbed tree. 1t was some time ere the
boy could explain what allied him and by
the time he had done so and the men gone
out with their guns Mr.. bear was gone.
saw fresh bear track within the limits of
our town one day since l came here. 1
have been very busy since located here
and have not had time to hunt much, but
If the health of the community improves
mean to have some sport next month.
A little party composed of Capt. H.,
Druggist b., DR.. H., and myself hearing
the ducks had began 10 collect in the bay
came to the conclusion that we would get
up very early one morning the first of this
week, and take run down there to see
about it. Capt. II. being an 'old SALT" as
it were, having sailed on the Ocean for
many years in his young days, agreed to
furnish the boat, act as Commodore, pilot,
&c, of the expedition. Druggist b. fur
nished the most of the provisions includ-
ing wet goods of various kinds, medicines,
&c. furnished the guns while DIR. HIS
duties were to wake us up in the morning
at 800 sure. My own alarm clock having
refused to go our faith for an early start
had to be pinned to DIR. II. This gentle
men must have been greatly excited over
our anticipated hunt, for he forgot to set
the alarm when he wound the clock. The
result was, your correspondent awoke at
4 a. m, one hour late, and had to rustic
around and awaken the other profession
ais. On arriving at the Captains place of
residence we found him on the alert, for
there had been dance the night before
and the Capt. had just been up to let the
chamber maids in on their return from
the dance. Boarding the small sailing
yacht Ride we were soon off on our cruise.
The morning being still and no wind to
speak of we had to depend upon an FASH
breeze and the oars were called into active
use. During our pull of @ miles to the
head of the bay we saw quite a number of
ducks and had some random shots but
could not get near enough TO kill our
game. 1t takes some time TO row a boat
with four persons and all their guns and
ammunition, six miles, and before we
reached the feeding grounds large party
! from Ashland had arrived ahead of us and
were just making things lively. We
could hear the continual roar of their
| guns and occasionally see fiocks of ducks
that were being frightened away by the
constant shooting. You can imagine how
we felt when we knew the Ashland hunt
ers were ahead of us and would either kill
or drive the ducks away before we got TO
/ the shooting grounds. Sure enough when
we arrived at the scene of our contem-
plated sport the ducks were all frightened
away and we had to content ourselves
with shooting mud hens and divers and
such iguoble game. About 0 o'clock our
/ appetites became very sharp, so we ran
/ the "Ridie" up near shore and proceeded
/ 10 open out the eatables and drinkables.
/ Our druggist proceeded 10 boil a pail OF
coffee which was soon done by the aid of
an alcohol lamp, this was made delicious
| by the addition of condensed milk full
/ justice was done to all of the numerous
viands provided and the dinner or break
fast was voted a glorious success. After
cruising around awhile we determined we
would start on the return voyage. Again
the fates were against US for by this time
/ the wind had risen and as i'll luck would
have it blew from the North and was dead
ahead. Our brave Captain said it was no
use to try to beat our way against it as we